Basket



sept. 21., .1948. H g, JOHNS, V:2,449,899

BASKET Filed April 17, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l '/WINVENTOR H65 gy-#M7 7 :a7 56.55 4free/vers Sept 21,1948( l f H. s. JOHNS f 2,449,899-A Y BASKET Filed April 17, 1944 I -2 sheets-sheet 2 rroRNE YJ packaging of fruit and vegetables.

Patented Sept. 2l, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Henry S. Johns, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application April 1v, 1944, seriaLNo. 531,397

claims. (C1. 217-122) Ihis invention relates tain features of construction employed in, the same lmay be utilized for manufacturing baskets of other materials, the invention has for its principal object to enable baskets to be made from veneer or other thin sheet-like material in such manner as to render them capable of speedy and cheap production while possessing unusual qualities of strength and rigidity. Further and ,more

limited objects of the invention will be pointed.

out hereinafter in connection with the description of the drawings and will be realized in and through the combinations of elements embodied in the claims hereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig.

l1 represents a side elevational view of a basket constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 a plan view of the aforesaid basket; Figs. 3 and 4 are details in section corresponding respectively to the lines 3--3 and 4-4 of Fig.'A 1; Figs. 5, 5a and 5b are details in section, thes'ections being taken intermediate of the loops, and showing modifications of the manner' ofs'ecu'ring together the side and end elements and the bottoms of baskets of the typefshown in the preceding views; Figs. 6 and 'l are views, similar respectively to Figs. 1 kand 2, showing a, modied form of my invention; Figs. 8 and 9 are details in section corresponding respectively to lines 8-8 and 9-9 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 10 is a detail in perspective of the lowerportion of one of the sides of the basket handle shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Describing by reference characters 'the parts shown herein and referring first to Figs. 1 to 4,

inclusive, IIU denotes the bottom of a basketof a familiar six-quart type, such asl used forthe This bottom is made of thin sheet-like material, such as veneer, which may be about one-tenth inch in thickness, and is provided with outwardly con- Vex ends IIlla connected by parallel sides IIllb.

The side and end panels'of the basket are made fromsix pieces of thinsheet-like material, such as veneer, identical in shape and dimensions, thereby reducing the number of operations necessary for the production of the basket. As ,will appear from Figs. 1 and 2, each side panel III and each end panel H8 is rectangular in shape and the side panels are spaced apart midway of the length of the basket to providea vertical slot I2'I between adjacent side edges of said panels. The upper ends of the side panels are secured, as

A by staples I3, to andbetween innerand outer upper reinforcing bandsl I4 and II5. yThe lower to baskets and, while cerends of the side panels are also secured to and between lower reinforcing bands IIE and III. It will be noted that these bands are of' such length that they overlap, as shown at IIlzi and I |59', thereby enabling the overlapping portions to be firmly secured together'by means of the staples, the reinforcement thus providing insuring strength at the discontinuous end portions of the bands.

II8 denotes the end panels of the basket, the same having their upper ends secured to and between the reinforcing bands II4 and H5 and their` lower ends secured to and between the reinforcing bands IIB and III. In practice,ythe edges of the end panels will occupy an overlapping relation with respect to the proximate edges of the respective side panels II I adjacent thereto. For convenience of machine-stapling the side and end panels together and to the reinforcing bandsgand assuming that the basket is moved counterclockwise with respect to the stapling means, the edges of the left hand end panel IIB will overlapthe adjacent edge of the side panel Illland the edge of the other side panel III will overlap the adjacent edge of the other end panel I I 8, and this successive overlapping arrangement will extend `around the other side of the basket. However, it is immaterial, so far as strength is concerned, Whether the end and side panels'be overlapped in this manner. The overlapping, however, imparts strength to the joints formed between the end and side panels.

The bottom is secured in place by means of Wide wire loops, each comprising legs IIS extending lalong the upper surfaces ofV the side portions of the bottom and preferably along the upper surfaces of the end ,por-tions thereof, and being secured to the botto-m by. having their ends projected through the bottom andben-t upwardly into engagement therewith, ras shown at Illia. The `outer looped ends IISID are bent downwardly .between theiinner reinforcing band I IIB and the lower end of the appropriate side panel III or end panel I I8 and are secured -to the lower reinforcing bands and to the lower ends 0f lthe panelsvby means of staples IZB, which preferably engage the `upper surfaces of the end-closures of the loops. The loops hold thebottoms of the panels tightly and securely again-st the edge ofthe bottom. The staple fasteners I3 and |20 are spaced apart mid- `way of the lengths of the side panels to provide vertical spaces along the said panels and between 'the same 'and the outer reinforcing bands for the passage of the sides of the handle.

Reference has been made herein-before to the fact that the side panels are spaced apart for the purpose of providing opposed vertical slots |2| therebetween. These opposed slots are for the purpose of receiving the lower end portions of the sides of a handle, the upper .arched portion of which is shown at l. The lower portions of the handle sides lare of substantially the same width as the slots |22 and each such portion has a reduced lower end or tongue I9. which i-s narrower in width than the portion thereabove, for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

The handles are detachably secure-d in placeby means of resilient tongues struck therefrom and adapted to engage beneath one or both of the upper reinforcing bands. As shown herein, each handle is provided with a pair of outwardly projecting tongues ld, struck therefrom, the tops of which are adapted to engage beneath the outer reinforcing band H5, and, with an inwardly projecting tongue I9e which is adapted to engage beneath the inner reinforcing band ||4. 'For the purpose of securing t'helower ends of the handle in place, I employ loops having legs |22' res-ting on vthe top of the bottom and having their ends pro jected' through andV fastened to and beneath rthe bottom, as shown .at |23, the looped ends. |2se projecting" outwardly above. the lower reinforcing bands and each receiving the lower reduced end or tongue. I9lo of the handle, the shoulders |90' resting on the sides of the, loops. The shoulders I9 prevent the sides ofthe handle. from being pushed downwardly further than is necessary to enable the tongues .thereon to be inserted between their respective lower reinforcing bands. The shoulders IQC and the tongues ld and' lSe'ai-e so arranged that when the. tongues are engaged be neaththeir respective bands, the shoulders will be in engagement with the leg-s. |22- of` the loops, thus preventing the. sides of the handle from being pushed downwardly further than necessary to enable the. tongues l'd' and' |91e thereon to engage the l bottoms of their respective reinforcing` 'bands whereby a rigid. as. well. as detachable.connection is obtained between the handle andthe basket proper. bands permits the tongues Mld andv I9@ to pass therebetween when the handle i's inserted into and removed from-the .basket proper. When the parts of which the basket is. formed are assembled. the. handle constitutes a central reinforcement for the sidesl of. the. basket. Furthermore, the fact that it is readily removable from the basket enables the baskets themselves to be nested for shipping, separate fromthe handles, thereby econom-izing greatly in. shipping space. Still further, where the material of which the baskets are made is incompletely dried or seasoned., the nesting of the baskets enables them to retain ltheir shape. Furthermore, the nesting of the baskets in shipment insuresy their delivery in a clean condition. The talc-t that the baskets retain their shape. enables the handles rto be .fitted properly in the vertical slots provided therefor and alsoenables the -covers to be conveniently `applied `to and fitted upon the tops ofthe baskets after the latter shall have been filled.

The manner in which the, handles are secured in place enables the weight of the basket :and its con-tents to be supported from the upper reinforcing bands; and the manner in which the bottom' is united to the sides and ends forms apar-- ticularly stron-g connection. between these parts andthe reinforcing bands..

It is also within the scope of 4my invention to The, resiliency of the upper reinforcing the bottoms of the side andend'panel-s.

the sides of the handle as the means for securing the bott-om in place and without utilizing the additional loops shown vand described here-in. It is believed that this will serve the purpose of enabling the bottom of the basket to be supported by the inner reinforcing band which, .as shown, is stapled to the outer reinforcing band.

While the loops are particularly desirable in connection with basket bottoms wherein the grain runs lengthwise of such bottoms, they are also desirable for use in basket-s wherein the grain of the bottoms runs crosswise thereof.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modication of the invention wherein the bottoms of the side panels and end panels ||8 .are shown a-s fastened to the bottom |30 by being creased above their respective bottoms and bent inwardly beneath the bottom |39 and stapled thereto, as shown at I3 t. In this construction, no inner lower reinforcing band is provided, the outer reinforcing band |32 being fastened' to the end' .and side panels above the bot tom |30. The tops ofthe side and enclpanels are secured -to and .between upperv and lower reinforcing. bands, indicate-d at |33 and' |34.

In 5a there is shown a further modification of the means for securing the basket bottom to Iii-this view, the ends Land sidesoi' the botto-m |1355 areb'ent downwardly. at their edges, thereby to provide a harige |35, the bottom ofwhich registers with the bottoms ofthe sides and ends and which is secured vto the outer lower' reinforcing band I l1 and 4to the bottoms of tire sides andv ends by the staples In Fig. 5h thereis shown a still further modificaticnwherein the sides and ends of' the bottom |31. yare bent upwardly at their edges thereby'to provide an upwardly projecting ange |38, which is secured to the outer lower reinforcing band I1 and to the bottoms of the sides. and ends of the basketby staples |2|1. In this view, the bottom of the basket registers with the bottoms of the sides and ends andv the bottom of the reinforcing bandv l.

In Figs. 6, '7, 8,'9 and 1'0, there. is shown a modification of my invention wherein instead ofusing six panels, of identical dimensions, I employ only two side panels and two end panels, the side panels being identical as to dimensions and the end. panels being 'identical as to ltheir dimensions but. of less width than thesid'e panels.

In these views, 2`|U denotes the bottom ofthe basket, 2| the side panels and 212 the end panels. TheA edges of the end panels overlap,r and are over- .lapped bygthe adjacent edges of' the'Y side panels in the same manner as is the case. with theprec'ed'i'ng embodiment of my invention, and the tops ofthe si'deand yend panels are inserted between an inner reinforcing band" 2.!4 and an outer reinforcing band. 2| 5" and secured' thereto by staples H3' and thebottoms of.- the side andend panels are inserted' between an inner' reinforcing bandl 2 |`6 and' an outer reinforcing band 2 and. secured thereto by staples' 22|). 'Ille upper .bands are of such length as to. overlap,v as shown at 2 |11'a and 2|5e and the lower reinforcingA bands also overlap in like manner yas indicated at 2 I6a inFig 9,' thereby enabling theoverl'apping portions. to be secured firmly togetherby means of the staples, thereinforcement thus Aprovided insuring streng-thv at the. dis-continuous` end portionsfof the. bands. The bottom is secured. to the sides by means of widewireloops .each comprising .legs 2|9 extending along, the

upper. portions of the side. portions` of the bottom and being .secured thereto by having their ends projected through thebottom and bent upwardly into engagement therewith as shown at '2|9P. The -outer 'looped vends 219b are bent downwardly between the'- inner reinforcing band :2k6 and the lower end of theappropriate side panel 2|I `and Y are secured'to the lower reinforcing bands and to the lower-ends :of Vthe side panels by means of the panels are made'of the material specified, to emvploy Wire loops such as the loops 219-2 lli"` for 'the purpose of obtaining proper contact between the bottoms of the end'panels andthe basket bottom.

22| denotes the upper or arched portion of a handle, the ysides 272|f=L of which Iare inserted between the outer upper and lower reinforcing `bands 2|5 and 211 and the outer surfaces of the respective side panels, midway of the length of the bask-et, it being noted that the fasteners H3 and 220 are spaced apart midway of the lengths of the 'side panels thereby to provide vertical spaces along such panels and between the same A :and Ithe outer reinforcing bands for the vpassage of the sides of the handle.` The lower end of each side of the handle is `provided with a centrally arranged tongue 22 I b, there being shoulders 22 lc rprovided'on opposite sides of each tongue where it is joined with the bot-tom of the side of the handle. The loo-ps l2 |92 I 9b which are nearest to the -centers of ythe sides of the bottom are located close to y.the tongues 22|b whereby the staples 220 will cause the portion of the outer reinforcing band 'therebetween -to assume an outwardly curved shape when-the tongues are inserted in place, the curvature being sufficient to insure -that the shoulders 22 lC will engage the top of Ithe band, as

shown in Fig. 6, thus preventing the sides of the handle from being pushed downwardly farther than is necessary to enable the .tongues thereon to engage the bottom of lthe upper outer reinforcing band. It will be noted that the sides of 'the handle are provided each with an outwardly projecting `tongue 22N1 struck therefrom, and this tongue is so located with respect to the shoulders 22| that, when the yshoulders are in engagement with the lower outer reinforcing band, the top of the tongue 22!d will be engaged with the bottom of the outer upper reinforcing band. This insures a rigid as well as a detachable connection between the handle and the basket pro-per. The resiliency of the upper reinforcing bands permits the tongues 22 Id to pas-s between the outer of said bands and the side panels when ythe handle is inserted into Iand removed from the basket proper.

While .the -handles may be inserted between the inner surfaces of the Iside panels and rthe inner reinforcing bands, in which case ythe tongues 22!d would project inwardly from the `sides `of 'the handle, it is preferable to place the sides of the handles on the outs-ide, as yshown and described, whereby 'injury to fruit in the basket by the handles will be prevented.

Due to lthe manner in which baskets made in accordance with my invention are constructed, I am able to 4provide them with suicient strength and rigidity to enable them to withstand all incidents of ordinary use to which they are subjected :and at the samef'time to employ thin material,

such as veneer, -fbre board, sheet plastic, cardboard, pressed ground wood or other suitable material for all of the parts thereof. In making sixquart baskets of veneer, I have employed, for the side'and end panels land rein-forcing bands, veneer of a thickness' of approximately 11g and, .for the handles, veneer' of |a thickness of approximately M3". Where materials other than veneer are used, the thickness of such materials' will necessarily vary in accordance with the strength thereof.

j This application is a continuation in part of my copending applica-tion Serial No. 493,525, filed July 5, 1943, which has matured into Paten-t No. 2,240,882, issued May 20, 1947. 'f

Havingr thus described my invention, ywhat I claim is: j

1. 'A basket comprising a bottom and side :and end panels made of relatively thin and light material, Ian outer upper reinforcing band wi-thin which the `upper ends of the side and end panels Iare secured,V .an outer lower reinforcing 'band t-o and within which the lower ends of the side vand end panels are secured, 4and means for securing lthe basket bottom within the bottom portions of lpermit the' insertion. of the sides of the handles between the upper reinforcing band and the external surfaces of the -side panels adjacent Ito said band and being so located as to engage the lower edge of the said upper reinforcing band when the shoulders therebelow engage the upper edge of the lower reinforcing band.

2. vA basket comprising a bottom and side and end panels made of relatively thin and light material, a'vertical slot being provided at the central portion of each side ofthe basket between the panels fon such side, inner and outer upper reinforcing bands to and between which the upper ends of the side and end panels are secured, an outer lower reinforcing band to and within which the lower ends of the side and end panels are secured, and means for securing the basket bottom Within the bottom portions of the side and end panels, an inverted U-shaped handle the lower portions of the sides whereof are insertable into the vertical slots and between the inner and outer upper reinforcing bands and within the lower reinforcing band, the bottoms of the sides of the handle being reduced to form tongues with shoulders thereabove, loops secured to the basket bottom and extending outwardly into the said slots and above the lower reinforcing band and adapted to receive the said tongues and to engage said shoulders, and one or more projections on each of the sides of the handle in position to engage the lower edge of an upper reinforcing band when the tongues on the lower ends of the handle sides are positioned within said loops.

3. A basket comprising a bottom and side and end panels made of relatively thin and light material, a vertical slot being provided at the central portion of each side of the basket between the panels on such side, inner and outer upper reinforcing bands to and between which the upperi-ends off/thel siderand end panels are secured, inner andyonter` lower reinforcingT bands to: and between which the: lower endsl of the side and end 1 panels are secured, an inverted U-shaped handle the lower portions ofthe sides. whereof are insertable into' the vertical slots andbetween the inner and outer upper reinforcing bands and between the inner and outery lower reinforcing bands, the bottoms of thet sides of the handle being reduced to form tongues with shoulders thereabove, loops secured` to the basket bottom and extending outwardly into the said slots and above the lower reinforcing bands and adaptedv torreceive the said tongues and tov engage said shoulders,. oneor more projections on each of the sides of the handle in position to engage the lower edge'. of an upper reinforcing band when the tongues on 'the lower ends of the handle sides are positioned within said loops, and fasteners securing the tops and bottoms of the panels tothe top and bottom reinforcing bands respectively.

4. A basket comprising side and end panels madetof relatively light and thin material, inner and .louterv` upper reinforcing bands andinner and outer` lower reinforcing bands extending around andy securedy respectively to the upper and lower ends of said panels, a bottom within the lower portions of the said panels and havingy its outer edge. portions adapted to engage and be supported byA the. lower inner reinforcing band, loops secured to opposite sides of the bottom substantially midway between thel ends thereof` and havingv their looped ends extending, beyond the side engesA of the bottom, an inverted U-shaped hann dle the sides whereof are insertable between the 4upper reinforcing bands and having each a tongue at its lower endI adapted to be inserted within the outer end of one. ot saidloops and between the` lower reinforcing bands and.4 each having shoulders. above said tongue adapted to engage the projecting sides of one of said loops, and means carried by the handle sides fordetachably engagingone ofthe upper reinforcing bands.

, 5. Aflbasket comprising a bottom andl side and end panels madeY offrelat'ively thin andlight material`, `a vertical slot being provided at the central. portion .of each side of the basket between the panels on suchside, innerA and outer upper reinforcing bands to and between which the upper ends of the side endend panels are secured, means for securing the basket bottom within the bottom portions of the side'and end: panels, and ain-invertedz U-shaped handle the lower portions of the sides whereof are insertable into the vertical slots and between the inner and outer upper reinforcing bands, saidinverted U-shaped handle having a. plurality of projections formedv on eachof the sides, ofthe lhandle and being extended therefrom to engage the lower edges of the inner and outer upper reinforcing, bander. atleast one of said projectionsfoneach side ofthe. handle being extended therefrom in an. opposite direction totI another projection formed on the same side of the handle, said', projections being exposed when said handle isV assembled inv the basket whereby lthe projections can be manually forced inwardly ofV said handle to lielsubstantially i-n the plane thereof andy permit the removal. of the handle from association with the basket.

HENRY S. JOHNS.

The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

Number Name Date 241,683' Marston May' 17, 1881 317,454 Hamilton May 5, 1885 L166,917 Blackmon Jan. 12I 1892 660,446 v Little Oct. 23, 1-900 701,665 Aber June 3 1902 734,721 Little July 28, 1903 821,010 Wilcox May 22, 1906 1,160,611 Hudson Nov. 16; 1915 1,397,235 Sabel Nov. 1'5, 1921 1,519,514 Stevens Dec. 16', 1924 1,707,565 Patten Apr.. 2:, 1929 1,720,337' Leigh July 9, 1929 2,040,993. Hewson MayA 19, 1936 2,118,061 Sullivan et al May-24, 1938 2,332,312 Foster' Got; 19', 1943 FORElGNV PATENTS Number Country Date 19,664 Great Britain A. D. 1899 

